Posted by Another Phil on October 1, 2006, at 22:31:25
In reply to Re: treatment resistance what has worked for you?, posted by jaclinhyde on October 1, 2006, at 17:18:07
Selegiline/Emsam 6 mg + Zyprexa 5 mg. I couldn't stay on the Emsam because of the severe problems it was causing with my concentration.
Currently, my mood is quite good on Parnate 80 mg + 50 mg Lamictal. However there are two (maybe three) lingering side effects that may make this unworkable for me long-term.
(1) Insomnia. I've tried several things and haven't had much success. Trazadone and Seroquel allowed me to fall asleep but I wouldn't stay asleep for long. Ambien and Lunesta (at higher than recommended doses) do the trick for sleep, but both make me really depressed again (as in, crying hysterically). I've also tried Valerian root with no luck.
(2) *Brutal* constipation. I can eat a pound of prunes a day and still...nothing...for 4-5 days at a time. I've found some laxatives that work, but the prospect of using laxatives daily for months or years seems like an invitation for various lower digestive diseases.
(3) Weight gain. I know I'm really vain. It's only 10 lbs. and doesn't seem to be increasing any more than that. I think I gained the weight earlier this year while taking Neurontin for sleep while on Emsam. But now that I'm off that and on Parnate (which often causes people to *lose* weight). I can't seem to lose the extra pounds, even though I work out every other day, have a healthy diet, and don't eat excessively.
Sorry if this was more than you asked for. The point is that after years on various antidepressants & adjucts, I *have* found treatments that work for my depression. I just haven't found the magic combination that works for my depression AND has I side-effect profile that I've been able to live with for more than a few months at a time.
Getting up to my current dose of Parnate was pretty traumatic, so I'm reluctant to just give it up. But I also know that I can't live with the insomnia and constipation indefinitely.
Phil
poster:Another Phil
thread:690651
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060927/msgs/690983.html